MATCH RECAP | Los Angeles FC 4, Portland Timbers 1

LOS ANGELES – Playing the second game of a 12-match road trip to begin the 2019 MLS campaign, the Portland Timbers fell 4-1 to Los Angles FC at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday night. Jeremy Ebobisse tallied his first goal of the season, while Diego Valeri recorded his second assist of the season for the Timbers.

Facing LAFC
In three all-time regular-season matches between Portland (0-1-1, 1pt) and LAFC (2-0-0, 6pts), the series is now tied at 1-1-1. In the first meeting in MLS play between the two clubs, Portland recorded a 2-1 victory at Providence Park on May 19, 2018. The two teams played to a scoreless draw on July 15, 2018, in the Timbers’ first MLS match on the road against LAFC.

Key plays
LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute Carlos Vela’s corner-kick service was headed into the top left-hand corner of the goal by Mark-Anthony Kaye.

Continuing to press forward, an LAFC turnover fell to David Guzmán on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot missed over the crossbar in the 34th minute. Four minutes later, Valeri’s curling shot from a free kick from 25 yards away from goal was parried away by Miller.

Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead just before the halftime break when Jordan Harvey’s low cross into the box was redirected into the back of the net by Christian Ramirez in the 45th minute.

In the 56th minute, Sebastián Blanco evaded his marker and slid in Ebobisse into the center of the penalty area, but his left-footed shot was blocked by an LAFC defender.

LAFC doubled its advantage in the 65th minute when Vela played a ball across goal to Adama Diomande, who tapped in from close range. Three minutes later, Vela curled a left-footed shot from the left edge of the penalty area into the far corner to give Los Angeles a 4-1 lead.